Means for anchoring a surgical device and a surgical drain embodying the same



March 8, 1960 F. J. WALLACE 2,927,584

MEANS FOR ANCHORING A SURGICAL DEVICE AND A SURGICAL DRAIN EMBODYING THE SAME Filed April 16. 1958 V MI -:1

United States atent MEANS FOR ANCHORING A SURGICAL DEVICE zskND A SURGICAL DRAIN EMBODYING THE AME Frederick J. Wallace, New York, N.Y., assignor to American Cystoscope Makers, Inc., Pelham Manor, N.Y., a t corporation of New York Application April 16, 1958, Serial No. 728,836 Claims. or. 128-349) This invention relates to surgical drains and more particularly to catheters provided with an inflatable bag.

Hemostatic catheters have hitherto been formedwith an inflatable bag usually around the forward portion of the elongated tube which, in their inflated condition, are intended to anchor the catheter and bear against bleeding areas. Such devices are inserted into the body passageway with the bag deflated. After the unit has been properly positioned, the bag is inflated so that it engages the bleeding tissue. It has been found, however, that such bag catheters leave much to be desired in use because of a tendency to slip away from the bleeding area. I have found that failure of the inflated bag to provide the desired anchoring effect is due primarily to the presence of body fluids such as blood in the region where the bag is supposed to eifect hemostasis and that such fluids permit the catheter to slip even with the bag inflated and in spite of the fact that such devices are commonly made of such materials as rubber, nylon, polyethelene or the like.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved inflatable hemostatic bag catheter which may be readily inserted and secured in place Within the body opening and which, with its bag inflated, is anchored against accidental dislodgement to a degree not hitherto attainable.

' Further objects as well as advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view partially in section of a catheter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the forward end thereof showing the bag inflated;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the forward end portion of the catheter;

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively cross-sectional views through the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the apparatus suitable for flocking the bag portion of the catheter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, catheter 10 comprises an elongated tube 11 having a rounded forward end 12 adjacent to which several openings 13 are formed which communicate with the interior, longitudinal bore 14 of the catheter. The rearward end portion 15 of the catheter 10 may be of enlarged diameter to facilitate the attachment of suitable devices for collecting the fluids which drain through the catheter.

Tube 11 is formed with a second passageway 16 extending longitudinally along the wall thereof from just rearward of the rearmost opening 13 to adjacent to rearward end 15 where tube 11 branches and is provided with an inflating tube 17. As shown most clearly in Figure 5, passageway 16 opens at 18 into bag 19 formed by an annular band secured in an airtight manner along its edges to the external surface of tube 11. Bag 19 is readily inflated, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, when a suitable pumping device such as a syringe is connected to the open end of inflating tube 17.

The manner in which catheter 10 as thus far described is made is well known to those skilled in the art and does not require elaboration here. When formed of deposited rubber latex the catheter is given one or more finishing dips into a latex bath after the member forming bag 19 has been aflixed thereto. Immediately after the final dip and while the external surface of bag 19 is tacky. The catheter is positioned in chamber 20 (Figure 6) above a supply of flocking material 21 in position upon a Van De Graaif generator. The surface portions of catheter 10 upon which it is not desired that the flocking adhere is coated with a suitable masking compound or plastic tape. As shown in Figure 6, bag 19 is maintained inflated during the deposition thereon of the flocking material.

Flocking material 21 may be of any suitable fiber such as cotton flock, wool fiber, or rayon acetate, nylon, Dacron or similar synthetic fiber. The fibers may vary in length from about .001 to .080 inch. Due to the electrostatic charge imparted by the Van De Graaff generator the fibers travel through the space in the chamber 20 oriented so that they reach the catheter 10 with one end leading and their longitudinal axis substantially normal to the surface of the catheter. The catheter may be rotated to insure complete deposition over the entire surface of bag 19. When the catheter has been in chamber 20 sufliciently long for bag 19 to be completely flocked the catheter is removed and the masking material is removed therefrom.

The flocking of the bag portion of the catheter may also be carried out after the catheter has completely set. In that event only the bag 19 which is to receive the flocking material is painted with a solution of natural rubber so as to provide it with a tacky surface which when set will unite integrally with the underlying material. As thus treated, the catheter is then suspended in chamber 20 and the flock adheres to the tacky surface.

While it has been found that best results are achieved when bag 19 is flocked in the presence of an electrostatic charge, it is possible to eflect deposition of the flocking material upon the bag portion of the catheter in the absence of an electrostatic charge.

Catheter 10 is particularly useful where a hemostatic bag catheter is desired to effect hemostasis in areas where tissue has been surgically removed. For example, in prostate removal a certain amount of bleeding occurs and after removal of the gland it is the function of a hemostatic bag catheter, inserted via the urethra and inflated with water or other suitable medium, to

compress venisoles or small arteries and thereby reduce bleeding.

When catheter 10 is introduced into the urethra and the bag inflated the flocked surface of bag 19 prevents the inflated bag from slipping away from the wet, bleeding area.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical drain, comprising an elongated tube said tube and for effecting hemostasis including a resil- 2. An inflatable, hemostatic bag catheter, comprising an elongated tube having'at least one opening formed therein adjacent to the forward end thereof to permit drainage of body fluid into the bore of said'tube, a resilient wall member secured to and engirdling a portion of said tube and forming an inflatable bag, an inflating tube joined to said first mentioned tube. adjacent to the rearward end thereof, said first mentioned tube having a second bore formed therein affording cornniunication between said inflating tube and said bag, and flock aflixed to the external surface of said bag and forming a mat-like surface.

3. Means for anchoring a surgical device within the body of a patient, comprising a resilient impervious member secured to and engirdling a portion of said device adapted to be introduced into a body passage and forming an inflatable bag, means for inflating said bag, and said bag having a mat-like exterior surface positioned for directly engaging in non-slip relation the wall of said passage.

4. Means for anchoring a surgical device within the 1 2 258 i v i a (A body of a patient, comprising a resilient impervious member secured to and engirdling a portion of said device adapted to be introduced into a body opening and forming an inflatable bag, means for inflating said bag, and flock aflixed to the external surface of said bag and providing the same 'with a mat-like exterior surface.

5. An inflatable, hernostatic bag catheter, comprising an elongated tube having at least one opening formed therein adjacent to the forward end thereof to permit drainage of body fluid into the bore of said tube, a resilient sleeve engirdling a portion of said tube and secured thereto in an airtight manner to form an inflatable bag, an inflating tube joined to said first mentioned tube adjacent to the rearward end thereof, said first mentioned tube having a second bore formed therein affording communication between said inflating tube and said bag, and flock in the form of discrete fibers aflixed to substantially the entire external surface of said, bag, said fibers being each connected to the surface of said bag so as to have one end thereof free.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

